Queen of the Supermarket

Driving into the parking lot of Goodwin’s Market in Crestline, one can’t help but notice a colorful mural gracing the wall adjacent to the right-side entrance. Emblazoned upon this welcoming work of art is a forested mountaintop background featuring an assortment of forest critters that include bears, deer, racoons, birds, squirrels and a lone coyote.

But that’s not all, folks – this mural, created by local mural artist Molly Collins, is unusual in that it has three-dimensional, wood-carved images of many of these forest creatures. What a joy to behold.

Founded by George Goodwin Sr., along with George Goodwin Jr. and son-in-law Bill Fuller in 1946, the general store was opened in the building now housing Ace Hardware. In 1957, the store relocated to what is now the Crestline post office and former Oak Trunk. In February 1985, they relocated to their current 42,500-square-foot supermarket at the corner of Lake Drive and Lake Gregory Drive, operated by George’s son David Goodwin and grandson Mike Johnstone.

The current location plays host to the relocated Oak Trunk and sports a meat department with the finest selection of dry-aged beef on the mountain. While at the meat department, turn around and you will be amazed at their unique ice cream and home-made candy parlor. It also plays host to two unique, 500-gallon fish tanks, much to the delight of children and adults alike. Another unique feature is Goodwin’s delivery service. Place an order online by 1 p.m. and your groceries will be delivered that afternoon.

Once inside Goodwin and Son’s Market, a fully masked shopper can grab a disinfectant towel or two for sanitizing their shopping cart before rolling down the aisles in search of a vast array of grocery and convenience items. It’s not unusual to be greeted by a cheerful store employee, whether it be a shelf stocker, produce worker, deli employee, meat department butcher, CEO David Goodwin or Vice President and General Manager Mike Johnstone.

By the way, Mike is like family (his mom is a Goodwin), not to mention my oldest boy was a classmate of his, beginning with preschool and continuing all the way through grade school, middle school and high school. And, let’s not forget those who work the COVID-compliant checkout counters (by the way, Goodwin’s was the first grocery store in the area to install “sneeze guards” to protect all their customers and employees), especially the smiling men and women grocery baggers and checkers.

“There’s a wonderful world where all you desire and everything you’ve longed for is at your fingertips, where aisles and aisles of dreams await you, and the cool promise of ecstasy fills the air. At the end of the working day, she’s waiting there. I’m in love with the Queen of the Supermarket. As the evening sky turns blue, a dream awaits in aisle number two.” (“Queen of the Supermarket” – Bruce Springsteen – 2009)

Keep it flyin’ Uncle Mott